Lever control assembly

ABSTRACT

A lever control assembly including a housing having a pair of spaced flanges with an actuator rotatably supported between the flanges. The housing comprises identical mating halves and the actuator comprises identical mating halves. The actuators each have an integral stub shaft extending therefrom and disposed in a cavity in the adjacent housing flange to provide bearing supports for the actuator. The actuator halves define a compartment between the stub shafts and an operating lever is attached or disposed in the compartment between the actuator halves. One or more pins extend transversely through the lever and the respective actuator halves surround each pin. The actuator halves have lower portions which are semicircular and define spaced flanges which include a plurality of spaced attachment holes disposed about the periphery whereby a control member may be attached to the actuator between its spaced flanges at any one of various positions. A plurality of spaced attachment holes are disposed on the exterior faces of the housing flanges about semicircles having the same center as the semicircular lower sections. The housing flanges, on the exterior faces thereof, include a plurality of retaining-recessed passages for receiving a generally U-shaped conduit support member.

United States Patent Gressard et al.

1 1' LEVER CONTROL ASSEMBLY [75] Inventors: Charles F. Gressard, Kent; Charles M. Schiff, Mentor, both of Ohio [73] Assignee: Telellex Incorporated, North Wales,

Pa. I [22] Filed: Sept. 18, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 398,407

[52] US. Cl 74/491, 74/471 R, 74/527, 200/6 R 51 int; Cl. G05g 1/04, G05g 7 00, G05g 9/00 [58] Field of Search 74/471 R, 473 R, 475, 491, 74/523, 527; 200/6 R, 6 A

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,521,489 9/1950 Sorensen 200/6 A 2,939,364 6/1960 Doswell et al. 248/478 3,134,269 5/1964 Shimanckas 192/.096 X 3,185,787 5/1965 Deibel et al. 74/527 X 3,339,876 9/1967 Kampa 3,470,771 10/1969 Houk 3,703,836 11/1972 Kiser 3,736,800 6/1973 Gregory 74/491 Primary Examiner-Allan D. l-lerrmann Attorney, Agent, or FirmMcGlynn and Milton Mar. 18, 1975 57 ABSTRACT A lever control assembly including a housing having a extend transversely through the lever and the respec- ,tive actuator halves surround each pin. The actuator halves have lower portions which are semicircular and define spaced flanges which include a plurality of spaced attachment holes disposed about the periphery whereby a control member may be attached to the actuator between its spaced flanges at any one of various positions. A plurality of spaced attachment holes are disposed on the exterior faces of the housing flanges about semicircles having the same center as the semicircular lower sections. The housing flanges, on the exterior faces thereof, include a plurality of retainingrecessed passages for receiving a generally U-shaped conduit support member.

58 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures 1 LEVER CONTROL ASSEMBLY ,form a controlling function at a position remote from the lever control assembly.

Such lever control assemblies are utilized in various environments. They are utilized in marine craft such as small pleasure boats for operating a transmission and- /or throttle of an outboard engine from a position in the cockpit which is remote from the engine. They are also utilized in other vehicles to. perform throttling and transmission control functions. For example they can be utilized in large earth moving equipment for control- .ling the transmission from the drivers position which is remote from the position of the transmission.

In the past it has been customary to design and manufacture a lever control assembly for a particular vehicle or craft and consequently given lever control assemblies are suited for only one vehicle or craft. Further, the prior art lever control assemblies include numerous specially fabricated components which are relatively expensive to manufacture and assemble.

The present invention is directed to an improved lever control assembly made of a minimum of components and which may be assembled in various configurations and provides various features whereby the assembly may be used in a multitude of environments or situations. In other words, the control assembly of the subject invention employsvarious features and functions making it suitable for universal application in various industrial and vehicle environments.

Other features and attendant advantages of the instant invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a lever control assembly constructed in accordance with the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken substantiallyalong line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and partially broken away and in cross-section;

FIG. 3 is a view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1 without showing the interior components;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view partially broken away and in cross-section of the actuator assembly of the subject invention;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing an alternative attachment of the control lever to the actuator;

FIG. 6 is an end view partially broken away and in cross-section of the actuator of the instant assembly but showing a biasing means coacting with the control lever which is alternative to the biasing means utilized in the embodiment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary side view similar to FIG. 1 but without various attachments connected thereto;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along lines 9-9 of FIG. 1;

2 FIG. 10 is.an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 10-10 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the inside of a housing half; and

. FIG. 12 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

Referring now to the drawings, a lever control assembly constructed in accordance with the instant invention is generally shown at 20 in FIGS. 1 through 3. The assembly 20 includes a housing means generally indicated at 22 and adapted for attachment to a support structure. An actuator means generally indicated at 24 is movably supported by the housing means 22. A control lever means comprising the operating lever 26 is attached to and extends from the actuator means 24 for moving the actuator means relative to the housing means 22.

A platelike cover member 28 is secured to the top of the housing 22 and has a slot 30 therein. The operating lever 26 extends through and moves along the slot 30. As will become more clear hereinafter, the actuator 24 rotates relative to the housing 22 as it is moved by the operating lever 26. The operating lever 26, which is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, may oscillate or pivot transversely of the plane of rotation of the actuator means 24.

The actuator means 24 includes first and second matings actuator halves 32. The actuator halves 32 are identical to one another. For example, when the actuator halves 32 are cast they may be cast in the same mold or identical molds.

The actuator halves 32 include circular mating sections 34 which are in mating engagement with one another to define the actuator means 24. Spaced flanges 36 are parallel to one another and extend from the respective mating sections 34. The lower portion or extremity of the actuator halves 32, as defined by the flanges 36, are semicircular so as to have an extremity disposed on a circle. The center of the semicircular lower portions of the actuator halves 32 is the same as the center of the circular mating sections 34. The two actuator halves are secured together by bolts 38.

The flanges 36 include connection means defined by the holes 40 for connection to a control member such as that generally indicated at 42. The control member 42 is adapted to be threadedly connected to a rod of the type secured to the end of a flexible motion transmitting cable or core element for transmitting motion in a curved path. Typically, the cable or core element is movably supported in a conduit which extends to a position remote from the assembly 20 for performing a control function. The connector 42 is morespecifically described and claimed in co-pending application Ser. No. 379,477 filed July I6, 1973 and assigned to the assignee of the subject application. The control member or connector 42 includes stub shafts or projections 44 which extend into one of the holes 40 in each of the actuator halves 32. The holes 40 have bottoms in that they do not extend completely through the flanges 36; however, it will be understood that the holes 40 may extend completely through the flanges 36.

Also, other control members other than that specifi- V cally illustrated at 42 may be attached to any one of the holes 40. Each hole 40 in. a flange 36 faces and is aligned with a like hole in the flange of the other actuator half 32. The holes 40 are disposed on a circle or semicircle about the periphery of the lower semicircu- 3 lar portion 'of the actuator means 24. Depending upon the control function to be performed, a control member', such as that shown at 42, may be connected to any one of the five positions provided by the holes 40 circumferentially about the periphery of the actuato halves 32.

As the operating lever 26 is shown in FIGS. 1 through 4and 6, it is pivotally supported in a compartment between the actuator halves 32. A pin 46, as shown in FIG. 4, extends transversely through the operating lever 26 and each of the actuator halves 32 includes a pocket 48 disposed about one half of the pin 46 whereby the pin 46 is rotatable in the pocket 48 to allow the lever 26 to be oscillated or pivoted transversely of therotational movement of the actuator means 24.

The embodiment of FIG. differs from that of FIG. 4 by including a second pin 46' extending transversely through the operating lever 26 and disposed in a second pocket 48 defined in each of the actuator halves 32. The operating or control lever 26 in the embodiment of FIG. 5 is prevented from oscillating, pivoting or otherwise moving relative to the actuator halves 32. When the embodiment of FIG. 5 is utilized the cover 28 would include a slot which is merely straight since the operating lever cannot pivot.

When the operating or control lever is pivoted to the actuator means there is also included biasing means reacting between at least one of the actuator halves 32 and the operating lever 26 for urging the operating lever toward at least one extreme position. More specifically, the interior of each actuator half 32 includes an open pocket 50 having a bottom and an annular side wall extending inwardly so that the pockets 50 of the respective actuator halves 32 open toward one another. The lever 26 extends between and is spaced from the pockets 50 of the opposed actuator halves 32 and a biasing means comprising a spring 52 is disposed in one of the pockets in one of the actuating halves 32 to bear against the operating lever 26. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the spring 52 is in the left side so as to bias the top of the operating lever 26 to the left or in a counterclockwise direction. Of course, the spring 52 may be disposed in the pocket 50 in the other or opposite actuator half 32 to bias the operating lever 26 in the opposite direction.

It is to be understood that in the embodiment of FIG. 5, where two pins 46 and 46 are utilized to coact with the two pockets 48 and 48' in the actuator halves 32, no biasing means is utilized. The pins 46 and 46 of FIG. 5 are spaced from one another longitudinally along the operating lever 26.

FIG. 6 shows an alternative biasing means to urge the operating lever 26 to an extreme position. Each of the actuator halves 32 defined one half of a pocket 54 which is disposed immediately below the lower end 56 of the control or operating lever 26. The lower end 56 of the operating lever 26 is tapered and rounded or pointed and coacts with a member having a semispherical end 58 which is urged upwardly by a spring 60. In the position shown in FIG. 6 the operating lever 26 is urged to rotate in a counterclockwise direction as viewed. However, when the operating lever 26' is moved to an intermediate vertical position and slightly therepast the member 58 will coact with the end 56 of the lever to bias the lever to rotate in the opposite or clockwise direction as viewed. Thus, the member 58 and the spring 60 define a biasing means coacting with the operating lever 26' for biasing the lever 26' in opposite directions from a central intermediate position.

Thus, the actuator halves 32 include a plurality of independent and alternative supporting means or pockets 50 and 54 for supporting any one of various biasing means to react with the operating lever whereby the operating lever may be biased in any one of various manners or various directions as desired for a particular operating environment.

The assembly also includes bearing means interconnecting the actuator halves 32 and the housing means 22. More specifically, the bearing means includes a circular stub shaft 62 integral with and extending from the side of each actuator half 32. The housing'means includes circular cavities 64 for receiving and rotatably supporting the shafts 62. It will be understood, of course, that the shafts may project from the housing with the actuator halves 32 having the cavities.

The bearing assemblyincludes a seal comprising an annular projection 66 extending about the shaft 62 fromthe housing 22 and slidably or rotatably disposed in a mating annular groove in theside of each actuator half 32 immediately adjacent the shaft 62. There is also included an annular lip 68 which is integral with the actuator half 32 and which extends into and in sealing relationship with the end of te projection 66. The projection 66 is, of course, annular and the word projection is merely used for descriptive purposes as the annular lip 68 is also a projection which functions in the same manner as the projection 66. The projections or lips 66 and 68 coact together to provide a circuitous route for preventing foreign matter from entering the sliding bearingsurface between each shaft 62 and the cavity in which it is rotatably disposed.

The outer ends of the shafts 62 includes an annular bearing surface 70 which engages the bottom of the cavity in which the shaft 62 is disposed so that the center 72 of the shaft end is not in contact with the bottom of the cavity in the housing means 22; however, the shafts 62 may be flat at ends thereof.

Because the actuator halves 32 are supported by the stub shafts 62 which do not extend through the assembly, a compartment is formed between the actuator halves on the axis of the stub shafts. The operation lever'26 may therefore extend through the axis of rotationof the actuator halves, i.e., the operating lever is disposed in the compartment between the actuator halves. Such provides a more compact unit.

Turning now to the housing means 22, it includes first and second mating housing halves 74 which are identical to one another and include upper portions which mate at an interface 76 as shown in FIG. 2. Extending downwardly are spaced apart parallel housing flanges between which the actuator halves 32 are disposed by being rotatably supported in the inwardly facing cavities of the housing flanges. Like the actuator halves 32, the housing halves 74 are identical and can be made from the same or identical molds.

The housing flanges, on their outer faces, include attachment means for supporting a conduit support means. More specifically, the conduit support means may take the form of a U-shaped rod-like member generally indicated at 78 and including parallel legs 80 and a base 82 supporting a conduit clamping bracket 84.

As alluded to hereinbefore, a motion transmitting core element is frequently attached to the connector means or control member 42 and is movably supported in a conduit. The end of that conduit may be supported by the bracket 84 so that a rod-like member or core element may extend from the conduit to be connected to the control member 42 for movement thereby.

The housing flanges include a plurality of attachment means each of which is defined by a bore 86 in the side faces of the housing valves, which bores 86 may be threaded or adapted to receive a self threading screw. Each bore 86 is disposed in a raised boss 88 which is raised above the flat outward surface 90. The housing flanges also include retaining means for receiving the legs 80 of the conduit support means 78 when the latter is attached to any one of the bores 86. More specifically, the retaining means comprises a plurality of recessed passages 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98 and 99. Raised abutments '100 and 101 extend upwardly from the faces 90 to define the various recessed passages numbered 92 through 99.

There is also included the auxilliary attachment means defined by the bores 102 in the surfaces 104 whereby auxilliary control members or brackets 106 may be secured to the housing flanges. Each bore 102 may be threaded or adapted to receive a self threaded screw. The bracket 106 is part of an electrical switch means which is actuated upon movement of the actuator means 32 for performing a given function. This may be accomplished by securing a clamp-like member to the periphery of one of the flanges of the actuator to coact with a switch disposed'on the bracket 106. The

bracket 106 may support aplurality of switches and a plurality of clamp-like members may be secured to the actuator flanges. The bracket will remain stationary and as the actuator is rotated,- a clamp-like member attached to a flange of an actuator half moves with the actuator and engages a switch supported by the bracket 106. As will be appreciated, an infinite number of positions along the semicircular actuator flanges may be chosen for clamp-like members and brackets 106 may be attached to any one of the holes 102. The bracket 106 also serves as a structural interconnection between the housing flanges to rigidify their relative positions.

The surfaces 100 protrude the farthest from the faces 90, the surfaces 104 being slightly below the surfaces 100 but above the bosses 88.

It will be noted that the bores 86 are spaced along a first circle which has the same center as the circle along which the bores 102 are disposed. The only difference being that the circle along which the bores 86 are disposed is smaller in radius than the circle along which the bores 102 are disposed. It will also be noted that most of the recessed passages numbered 92 through 99 extend along a radial line passing through the center of one of the bores 86. By such an arrangement, the legs 80 of the conduit support means 78 may be disposed in any one of various positions relative to the housing means 22. For example, the legs 80 may be attached to the same hole 86 as shown in FIG. 1 but extend out through the recess passage 93 instead of the recess passage 98. The support means 78 may also be attached to the upper right-handmost bore 86 and extend downwardly through the recessed passage 97. Thus, at least one of the bores 86 have more than one recessed passage extending radially therefrom.

On the interior of each housing flange opposite to the surfaces 104 which accommodate the auxiliary attachment 106, there is included a relief or depressed portion 110. The auxiliary member 106 includes a pair of forks, one of which is disposed on the surface 104 and the other which is disposed in the depressed portion 110. Alternatively, the depressed portion 110 and the inner fork of bracket 106 may be eliminated with the bracket 106 held in place by a screw extending through the outer flange and in threaded engagement with the housing half 90.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, each housing half 74 includes an arcuate recess 114 struck on an are having its center on the axis of rotation of the actuator. A motion control means is disposed in the recess and coacts with the actuator means 24 for affecting the movement of the actuator means. More specifically, an arcuate member 116 is disposed in the recess 114 and includes ridges 118 therealong. A control pin 120 is disposed in a recess 122 in the adjacent actuator half. A biased pin 126 extends from the control pin 120 and is biased by a spring, or the like, into engagement with the member 116. It will be appreciated that as the actuator means 24 is rotated, the biased pin 126 will ride over the ridges 118 to resist or control movement of the actuator means and to retain the actuator means in any position to which it is moved. Alternatively, the pin 126 and control pin 120 may be fabricated and supported in a manner that the pin 126 engages the arcuate member 116 (or an equivalent member) only when forced or moved thereagainst by the lateral pivotal movement of the handle 26. Thus, the pin would engage the locking member 116 when the handle is disposed at an angle to prevent or inhibit rotary movement of the actuator halves 32. It will be understood that the motion control means may take forms other than that illustrated. For example, various different friction or locking members may be disposed in the recess 114 to coact with various different means extending from the actuator means 24.

As will be appreciated from this description, the control assembly of the subject invention may be utilized in various different environments, yet is made of a minimum of components; to wit, an actuator half 32, a housing half 74, an operating lever 26, and two alternative biasing means for acting upon the lever. The assembly therefore includes only three basic elements the lever, the actuator half and the housing half. Yet these three basic elements or components provide a number of features. One feature is the configuration of stub shafts supporting the actuator whereby the lever is disposed in a compartment between the actuator halves on the axis of rotation of the actuator halves. Another feature is the specific configuration of the bearing stub shafts which support the actuator. Also, the actuator includes a plurality of independent and alternative supporting means for supporting one of various biasing means to react with the lever. A further feature is the use of a bracket to coact with the actuator for performing a switching function.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations in the instant invention are possible in lgiht of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and yet remain within the scope of the depending claims.

means, bearing means interconnecting each of opposite sides of said actuator means and said housing means, said actuator means having a compartment therein between said bearing means, lever means disposed in said compartment and extending from said actuator means for moving said actuator means relative to said housing means, each of said bearing means including a circular shaft integral with and extending from one of said housing means and said actuator means and a circular cavity in the other forreceiving said shaft, and a seal comprising an annular projection extending about each shaft and'movably disposed in a mating annular groove.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including an annular lip extending into and in sealing relationship with the end of said projection.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the end of said shaft includes an annular bearing surface engaging the bottom of said cavity so that the center of the end of said shaft is not in contact with said cavity.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said shafts extends from each side of said actuator means and a pair of said cavities are disposed in said housing means for receiving said shafts, said shafts extend from said actuator means in opposite directions.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said lever means is pivotally supported by said actuator means and including biasing means reacting between said actuator means and said lever means for urging said lever means toward at least one position.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said shafts defines an open pocket on the interior thereof so that said pockets are open inwardly toward one another, said lever means being disposed transversely of and between said pockets, said biasing means being disposed in at least one of said pockets and bearing against said lever means.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said actuator means includes first and second mating actuator halves which are identical to one another and said halves each define one half of a pocket and said biasing means is disposed in said pocket and engages said lever means for biasing said lever means in opposite directions from an intermediate position.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said actuator means includes first and second mating actuatorhalves whichare identical to one another and said lever means comprises an operating lever disposed between said halves, at least one pin extending transversely of said operating lever, each of said halves each disposed about one half of said pin.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 including a pair of said pins spaced from one another longitudinally along said operating lever and surrounded by said halves to prevent movement of said operating lever relative to said halves.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes first and second mating actuator halves which are identical to one another and said halves include mating sections in mating engagement and spaced flanges extending from said mating sections.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said flanges include connection means for connection to a control member.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said flanges include a plurality of said connection means.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said connection means includes aligned and facing holes in said flanges.

l4.An assembly as set forth in claim 10 including fasteners extending through said mating sections for securing said halves together. i

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said housing means includesfirst and second mating housing halves which are identical to one another.

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said mating housing halves include spaced apart housing flanges, said actuator halves being disposed between said housing flanges.

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said housing flanges include attachment means for supporting conduit support means.

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said housing flanges include a plurality of said attachment means.

19. An assembly as set forth in claim 18 including conduit support means attached to said housing flanges by said attachment means.

20. An assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said conduit support means comprises a U-shaped member with one of the legs thereof attached to one of said housing flanges and the other leg attached to the other of said housing flanges.

21. An assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said attachment means includes a first plurality of spaced bores.

22. An assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein said housing flanges include retaining means for receiving conduit support means attached to any one of said bores.

23. An assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said retaining means includes a plurality of recessed passages.

24. An assembly as set forth in claim 23 wherein each of said recessed passages extends along a radial line passing through the center of one of said bores.

25. An assembly as set forth in claim 24 wherein at least one of said bores has a plurality of said passages extending radially therefrom.

26. An assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein said housing flanges include auxiliary attachment means.

27. An assembly as set forth in claim 26 wherein said auxiliary attachment means includes a second plurality of bores.

28. An assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said first plurality of bores are spaced along a first circle and said second plurality of bores are disposed along a second circle.

29. An assembly as set forth in claim 28 wherein said first circle has a smaller radius than said second circle.

30. A lever control assembly comprising; housing means adapted for attachment to a support structure, actuator means movably supported by said housing means, bearing means interconnecting each of opposite sides of said actuator means and said housing means, said actuator means having a compartment therein between said bearing means, lever means disposed in said compartment and extending from said actuator means 'for moving said actuator means relative to said housing ment of said actuator means.

32. A lever control assembly comprising; housing means adapted for attachment to a support structure, actuator means movably supported by said housing means, lever means extending from said actuator means for moving said actuator means relative to said housing means, bearing means interconnecting said housing means and said actuator means, said bearing means including a circular shaft integral with and extending from one of said actuator means and said housing means and a circular cavity in the other of said actuator means and said housing means for receiving said shaft, and a seal comprising an annular projection extending about said shaft and movably disposed in a mating annular groove.

33. An assembly as set forth in claim 32 including an annular lip extending into and "in sealing relationship with the end of said projection.

34. An assembly as set forth in claim 33 wherein the end of said shaft includes an annular bearing surface engaging the bottom of said cavity so that the center of the end of said shaft is not in contact with said cavity.

35. A lever control assembly comprising; housing means adapted for attachment to a support structure, actuator means' movably supported by said housing means. lever means extending from said actuator means for moving said actuator means relative to said housing means, said housing means including a plurality of attachment means for supporting a support member at any one of various positions, said housing means including retaining means for receiving a support member attached to said housing means at any one of said attachment means, said retaining means being formed integrally with said housing means and defined by at least one of a plurality of abutments and a plurality of recessed passages.

36. An assembly as set forth in claim 35 wherein said recessed passages are defined by said abutments.

37. An assembly as set forth in claim 36 wherein each of said recessed passages extends along a radial line passing through the center of one of said attachment means.

38. An assembly as set forth in claim 37 wherein at least one of said attachment means has a plurality of said passages extending radially therefrom.

39. An assembly as set forth in claim 38 wherein each of said attachment means comprises a bore in said housing means.

40. An assembly as set forth in claim 38 wherein said housing means includes a plurality of auxiliary attachment means.

41. An assembly as set forth in claim 40 wherein said attachment means are spaced along a circle and said auxiliary attachment means are disposed along a second circle.

42. An assembly as set forth in claim 41 wherein said first circle has a smaller radius than said second circle.

43. A lever control assembly comprising: housing means adapted for attachment to a support structure, actuator means movably supported by said housing means, lever means extending from said actuator means for moving said actuator means relative to said housing means, said lever means including an operating lever pivoted to said actuator means for oscillating movement transversely of the movement of said actuator means, said actuator means including a plurality of independent and alternative supporting means for supporting one of various biasing means to react with said operating lever whereby said operating lever may be biased in one of various manners.

44. A lever control assembly comprising: a housing having pair of spaced flanges, an actuator rotatably.

supported between said flanges, an operating lever attached to and extending from said actuator, said actuator having a semicircular lower portion and a plurality of connection means spaced along the periphery of said lower portion for connection to a control member, said housing having a semicircular lower section and a plurality of spaced attachment means disposed about a semicircle having the same center as the semicircular lower section for supporting conduit support means.

45. An assembly as set forth in claim 44 wherein said housing includes retaining means adjacent said attachment means for receiving conduit support means connected to said housing by said attachment means.

46. An assembly as set forth in claim 45 wherein said actuator comprises first and second mating actuator halves which are identical to one another.

47. An assembly as set forth in claim 46 wherein said housing comprises first and second mating housing halves which are identical to one another.

48. An assembly as set forth in claim 47 wherein said operating lever is disposed between said actuator halves, at least one pin extending transversely of said operating lever, each of said actuator halves disposed about one half of said pin.

49. An assembly as set forth in claim 48 wherein said actuator halves include a plurality of independent and alternative supporting means for supporting one of various biasing means to react with said operating lever whereby said operating lever may be biased in one of various manners.

50. An assembly as set forth in claim 49 including bearing means rotatably interconnecting said actuator halves and said housing halves including a circular shaft integral with and extending from each of said actuator halves and a cavity in each of said housing halves for receiving said shafts.

51. An assembly as set forth in claim 41 wherein said mating housing halves include spaced apart housing flanges which define said semicircular lower section and including bracket means interconnecting said flanges at the peripheries thereof.

52. An assembly as set forth in claim 51 including switch means disposed on said bracket means for coacting with said actuator.

53. An assembly as set forth in claim 50 including a recess in each of said housing halves facing said actuator halves, and motion control means disposed in one of said recesses and coacting with said actuator for affecting the movement of said actuator.

54. A lever control assembly conprising; housing means adapted for attachment to a support structure,

. actuator means movably supported by said housing means, bearing meansinterconnecting each of opposite said actuator means having a compartment therein between said bearing means, lever means disposed in said compartment and extending from said actuator means for moving said actuator means relative to said housing means, said actuator means including connection means for alternatively rigidly and pivotally supporting said'lever means, said actuatormeans further including a plurality of independent and alternative supporting means for supporting one of various biasing means to react with'said lever means whereby said lever means may be biased in one of various manners when pivotally are open inwardly toward one another for receiving one of said various biasing ,means.

56. An assembly as set forth in claim 55 wherein said actuator means includes first and second mating actuator halves which are identical to one another and at least a part of said supporting means being defined by one-half of a pocket in each half for receiving one of said various biasing means for biasing said lever means in opposite directions from an intermediate position.

57. An assembly as set forth in claim 56 wherein said lever means comprises an operating lever disposed between said actuator halves, at least one pin extending transversely of said operating lever, each of said halves disposed about one-half of said pin.

58. An assembly as set forth in claim 57 including a pair of said pins spaced from one another longitudinally along said operating lever and surrounded by said halves to prevent movement of said operating lever relative to said halves. 

1. A lever control assembly comprising; housing means adapted for attachment to a support structure, actuator means movably supported by said housing means, bearing means interconnecting each of opposite sides of said actuator means and said housing means, said actuator means having a compartment therein between said bearing means, lever means disposed in said compartment and extending from said actuator means for moving said actuator means relative to said housing means, each of said bearing means including a circular shaft integral with and extending from one of said housing means and said actuator means and a circular cavity in the other for receiving said shaft, and a seal comprising an annular projection extending about each shaft and movably disposed in a mating annular groove.
 2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including an annular lip extending into and in sealing relationship with the end of said projection.
 3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein the end of said shaft includes an annular bearing surface engaging the bottom of said cavity so that the center of the end of said shaft is not in contact with said cAvity.
 4. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein one of said shafts extends from each side of said actuator means and a pair of said cavities are disposed in said housing means for receiving said shafts, said shafts extend from said actuator means in opposite directions.
 5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said lever means is pivotally supported by said actuator means and including biasing means reacting between said actuator means and said lever means for urging said lever means toward at least one position.
 6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said shafts defines an open pocket on the interior thereof so that said pockets are open inwardly toward one another, said lever means being disposed transversely of and between said pockets, said biasing means being disposed in at least one of said pockets and bearing against said lever means.
 7. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said actuator means includes first and second mating actuator halves which are identical to one another and said halves each define one half of a pocket and said biasing means is disposed in said pocket and engages said lever means for biasing said lever means in opposite directions from an intermediate position.
 8. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said actuator means includes first and second mating actuator halves which are identical to one another and said lever means comprises an operating lever disposed between said halves, at least one pin extending transversely of said operating lever, each of said halves each disposed about one half of said pin.
 9. An assembly as set forth in claim 8 including a pair of said pins spaced from one another longitudinally along said operating lever and surrounded by said halves to prevent movement of said operating lever relative to said halves.
 10. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes first and second mating actuator halves which are identical to one another and said halves include mating sections in mating engagement and spaced flanges extending from said mating sections.
 11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said flanges include connection means for connection to a control member.
 12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said flanges include a plurality of said connection means.
 13. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said connection means includes aligned and facing holes in said flanges.
 14. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 including fasteners extending through said mating sections for securing said halves together.
 15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said housing means includes first and second mating housing halves which are identical to one another.
 16. An assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said mating housing halves include spaced apart housing flanges, said actuator halves being disposed between said housing flanges.
 17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said housing flanges include attachment means for supporting conduit support means.
 18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said housing flanges include a plurality of said attachment means.
 19. An assembly as set forth in claim 18 including conduit support means attached to said housing flanges by said attachment means.
 20. An assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein said conduit support means comprises a U-shaped member with one of the legs thereof attached to one of said housing flanges and the other leg attached to the other of said housing flanges.
 21. An assembly as set forth in claim 18 wherein said attachment means includes a first plurality of spaced bores.
 22. An assembly as set forth in claim 21 wherein said housing flanges include retaining means for receiving conduit support means attached to any one of said bores.
 23. An assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said retaining means includes a plurality of recessed passages.
 24. An assembly as set forth in claim 23 whereiN each of said recessed passages extends along a radial line passing through the center of one of said bores.
 25. An assembly as set forth in claim 24 wherein at least one of said bores has a plurality of said passages extending radially therefrom.
 26. An assembly as set forth in claim 25 wherein said housing flanges include auxiliary attachment means.
 27. An assembly as set forth in claim 26 wherein said auxiliary attachment means includes a second plurality of bores.
 28. An assembly as set forth in claim 27 wherein said first plurality of bores are spaced along a first circle and said second plurality of bores are disposed along a second circle.
 29. An assembly as set forth in claim 28 wherein said first circle has a smaller radius than said second circle.
 30. A lever control assembly comprising; housing means adapted for attachment to a support structure, actuator means movably supported by said housing means, bearing means interconnecting each of opposite sides of said actuator means and said housing means, said actuator means having a compartment therein between said bearing means, lever means disposed in said compartment and extending from said actuator means for moving said actuator means relative to said housing means, said housing means including a pair of spaced-apart housing flanges and said actuator means is disposed therebetween, and bracket means interconnecting said flanges at the peripheries thereof.
 31. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a recess in said housing and facing said actuator means, motion control means disposed in said recess and coacting with said actuator means for affecting the movement of said actuator means.
 32. A lever control assembly comprising; housing means adapted for attachment to a support structure, actuator means movably supported by said housing means, lever means extending from said actuator means for moving said actuator means relative to said housing means, bearing means interconnecting said housing means and said actuator means, said bearing means including a circular shaft integral with and extending from one of said actuator means and said housing means and a circular cavity in the other of said actuator means and said housing means for receiving said shaft, and a seal comprising an annular projection extending about said shaft and movably disposed in a mating annular groove.
 33. An assembly as set forth in claim 32 including an annular lip extending into and in sealing relationship with the end of said projection.
 34. An assembly as set forth in claim 33 wherein the end of said shaft includes an annular bearing surface engaging the bottom of said cavity so that the center of the end of said shaft is not in contact with said cavity.
 35. A lever control assembly comprising; housing means adapted for attachment to a support structure, actuator means movably supported by said housing means, lever means extending from said actuator means for moving said actuator means relative to said housing means, said housing means including a plurality of attachment means for supporting a support member at any one of various positions, said housing means including retaining means for receiving a support member attached to said housing means at any one of said attachment means, said retaining means being formed integrally with said housing means and defined by at least one of a plurality of abutments and a plurality of recessed passages.
 36. An assembly as set forth in claim 35 wherein said recessed passages are defined by said abutments.
 37. An assembly as set forth in claim 36 wherein each of said recessed passages extends along a radial line passing through the center of one of said attachment means.
 38. An assembly as set forth in claim 37 wherein at least one of said attachment means has a plurality of said passages extending radially therefrom.
 39. An assembly as set forth in claim 38 wherein each of said attachment means comprises a bore in said housing means.
 40. An assembly aS set forth in claim 38 wherein said housing means includes a plurality of auxiliary attachment means.
 41. An assembly as set forth in claim 40 wherein said attachment means are spaced along a circle and said auxiliary attachment means are disposed along a second circle.
 42. An assembly as set forth in claim 41 wherein said first circle has a smaller radius than said second circle.
 43. A lever control assembly comprising: housing means adapted for attachment to a support structure, actuator means movably supported by said housing means, lever means extending from said actuator means for moving said actuator means relative to said housing means, said lever means including an operating lever pivoted to said actuator means for oscillating movement transversely of the movement of said actuator means, said actuator means including a plurality of independent and alternative supporting means for supporting one of various biasing means to react with said operating lever whereby said operating lever may be biased in one of various manners.
 44. A lever control assembly comprising: a housing having pair of spaced flanges, an actuator rotatably supported between said flanges, an operating lever attached to and extending from said actuator, said actuator having a semicircular lower portion and a plurality of connection means spaced along the periphery of said lower portion for connection to a control member, said housing having a semicircular lower section and a plurality of spaced attachment means disposed about a semicircle having the same center as the semicircular lower section for supporting conduit support means.
 45. An assembly as set forth in claim 44 wherein said housing includes retaining means adjacent said attachment means for receiving conduit support means connected to said housing by said attachment means.
 46. An assembly as set forth in claim 45 wherein said actuator comprises first and second mating actuator halves which are identical to one another.
 47. An assembly as set forth in claim 46 wherein said housing comprises first and second mating housing halves which are identical to one another.
 48. An assembly as set forth in claim 47 wherein said operating lever is disposed between said actuator halves, at least one pin extending transversely of said operating lever, each of said actuator halves disposed about one half of said pin.
 49. An assembly as set forth in claim 48 wherein said actuator halves include a plurality of independent and alternative supporting means for supporting one of various biasing means to react with said operating lever whereby said operating lever may be biased in one of various manners.
 50. An assembly as set forth in claim 49 including bearing means rotatably interconnecting said actuator halves and said housing halves including a circular shaft integral with and extending from each of said actuator halves and a cavity in each of said housing halves for receiving said shafts.
 51. An assembly as set forth in claim 41 wherein said mating housing halves include spaced apart housing flanges which define said semicircular lower section and including bracket means interconnecting said flanges at the peripheries thereof.
 52. An assembly as set forth in claim 51 including switch means disposed on said bracket means for coacting with said actuator.
 53. An assembly as set forth in claim 50 including a recess in each of said housing halves facing said actuator halves, and motion control means disposed in one of said recesses and coacting with said actuator for affecting the movement of said actuator.
 54. A lever control assembly conprising; housing means adapted for attachment to a support structure, actuator means movably supported by said housing means, bearing means interconnecting each of opposite sides of said actuator means and said housing means, said actuator means having a compartment therein between said bearing means, lever means disposed in said compartment and extending from said actuator means for moving Said actuator means relative to said housing means, said actuator means including connection means for alternatively rigidly and pivotally supporting said lever means, said actuator means further including a plurality of independent and alternative supporting means for supporting one of various biasing means to react with said lever means whereby said lever means may be biased in one of various manners when pivotally supported by said actuator means.
 55. An assembly as set forth in claim 54 wherein each of said bearing means includes a circular shaft integral with and extending from each side of said actuator means into circular cavities in said housing means, said supporting means including an open pocket in each of said shafts on the interior thereof so that said pockets are open inwardly toward one another for receiving one of said various biasing means.
 56. An assembly as set forth in claim 55 wherein said actuator means includes first and second mating actuator halves which are identical to one another and at least a part of said supporting means being defined by one-half of a pocket in each half for receiving one of said various biasing means for biasing said lever means in opposite directions from an intermediate position.
 57. An assembly as set forth in claim 56 wherein said lever means comprises an operating lever disposed between said actuator halves, at least one pin extending transversely of said operating lever, each of said halves disposed about one-half of said pin.
 58. An assembly as set forth in claim 57 including a pair of said pins spaced from one another longitudinally along said operating lever and surrounded by said halves to prevent movement of said operating lever relative to said halves. 